Thinking globally while acting and innovating locally: Achieving meaningful use stage 2 by reporting cancer from electronic health records to a central cancer registry

BACKGROUND: Meaningful Use (MU) Stage 2 included cancer reporting to a central cancer registry (CCR) as an option clinicians could select as one of three choices out of six options in implementing a certified electronic health record (EHR). Missouri Cancer Registry and Research Center (MCR-ARC) was one of two CCRs awarded American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) funding through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement and demonstrate use and effectiveness of EHR reports of cancer diagnosis and treatment for a CCR. Over the course of the award, MCR-ARC discovered several need-to-know details to help other CCRs and eligible providers (EPs) embark on a successful journey. PURPOSE: Show different techniques employed for successful implementation of EHR reporting from physician offices and clinics and how requirements for MU Stage 2 public health/cancer reporting can be achieved. METHODS: MCR-ARC recruited different types of cancer reporters (general and specialized clinics and physician offices (C/POs), critical access hospitals (CAHs)). MCR-ARC staff worked on a number of CDC and North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) workgroups to develop use case, data mappings and EP checklists that can be utilized by all CCRs as well as identifying key external partners. In addition to fine-tuning the implementation of EHR reporting to MCR-ARC, testing and production data were analyzed and streams of EHR transmissions on a frequent basis. RESULTS: We will share MCR-ARC's steps for EPs to submit data using their EHR reports; identify challenges associated with obtaining data from recruited facilities and strategies for working with vendors; stress the importance of assessing infrastructure and system status and needs; suggest possible external partners; and identify potential barriers. DISCUSSION: EHR reporting presents challenges but has tremendous potential for reducing bias and, by increasing data quality and completeness, reducing health disparities.